FIRST EVER CAN-AM SPEEDWAY WINS TO SURACE AND TAYLOR
O'BRIEN, EDGAR AND WOODWARD ALSO WINNERS
LAFARGEVILLE NY: The racing season is nearing the end in northern New York and if last weeks action is any indication of what the season finale will be like, race fans had better plan on getting to the fast 1/2 mile Can-Am Speedway early to get a good seat. Two first time winners found their way to victory this past Saturday night and three others added to their list of wins for 1999 on Clean Burn Waste Oil Furnaces night.
The 25 lap 358 DIRT Modified feature saw George McIntyre and Bob Bennett setting the pace and again this week McIntyre jumped into the early lead. Last week McIntyre looked to be on the way to his first feature win of the year until a flat tire late in the race ended his hopes at victory. This week Lee Gill shot past to take over the lead on lap 5 moving McIntyre back to the second spot. Gill has had a great season at Can-Am in 1999 but Pat O'Brien has been the man to beat lately and on lap 9 O'Brien powered his way around Gill to take command after a spirited side by side battle. Bill Gill up next and moved into the second position on lap 11 but engine troubles set him to the pits on lap 14, this handed the second spot over to last weeks winner Billy Wilcox. O'Brien opened up a sizable lead late in the event and just when Wilcox looked as though he would settle for second, Jeff Sykes showed his strength by pulling by Wilcox with just 2 laps to go. O'Brien picked up the win over a very strong Jeff Sykes, Wilcox, Dale Eggleston and McIntyre.
The DIRT Sportsman were up next and the 15 lap feature event started off with close racing and no cautions until lap 8, but this was not the way it would end. Wayne Side took advantage of his front row starting spot and charged into the early lead with fellow front row starter Larry Lamb settling into second. Side looked to be on cruise control holding the lead over Scott MacCue who had made his way up to the second position on lap 2. The first caution saw Side the leader with MacCue and Ben Tucker chasing him. Sides great run began to fade when he had a tire going flat and on lap 13 Dave Surace made his way around and into the lead. Side was forced to the pits with the flat tire and this set up a dash to the checkered. As the leaders rounded turns three and four, MacCue made a late charge to the outside but the car got into the outside wall collecting Anthony Fiorentino and RJ Gibbons. Fiorentino walked away from a hard series of flips and rolls while Gibbins was lucky to walk away from his over turned race car. Surace claimed his first ever win at Can-Am with Matt Butler, Tim VanBrocklin, Jeff Narrow and Adam Moore completing the top five.
A small field of IMCA Modifieds were on hand for their 15 lap feature and it was Kevin Chant showing the way at the end of lap 1. Neal Edgar has had terrible luck this season and was looking to turn it around as he went by Chant for the lead on lap 3. The caution flew on lap 4 and on the restart Edgar was able to retain the top spot. The caution again came out on lap 9 when Rick Dusckas broke something between turns one and two sending his car into the trees of of turn two. Edgar pulled away on the restart and went the rest of the way for the win over Chant, newcomer Lou Gancarz, Joe Lockorini and Ken Partridge.
It was the final night of points and possibly the final feature event ever at Can-Am for the Street Stocks. Laurie Handschuh was shown as the leader on lap one but a very fast Steve Woodward charged into the lead on lap 2. Handschuh settled into the second spot while Dave Marshall and Bill Eisele made their way to the front. Woodward was setting a fast pace and although the pack was able to stay within sight of the leader Woodward cruised to another win in 1999. Marshall came across second with Eisele clinching his first ever track championship with a third place finish, Steve Rookey and Handschuh completed the top five.
Another great field of IMCA Hobby Stocks was on hand and 21 cars were called out for the green flag in the 10 lap feature event. Chris Taylor, who is on his third car of the season took the lead at the drop of the green from his front row starting position with Chris Warner moving into the second spot at the end of lap 1. The race went caution free until lap 8 with Taylor and Warner remaining the top two, both were looking for their first ever feature win when the race went back green on lap 9. Taylor was able to prevail in the battle between the two rookies to pick up the popular win. Warner had a great run to come in second ahead of Kim Mallette, Joseph Combs and Erv Miller.
Next Saturday, September 18th will be the final race of the season at Can-Am. Special races will be held in all four scheduled divisions, with the 30 lap Mr. DIRT Sportsman event headlining the nights activities. Joining the DIRT Sportsman will be the 358 DIRT Modifieds who will compete in a 30 lap Syracuse Qualifier and the always exciting IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Hobby Stocks will be on hand to compete for extra money in their final races of the year at Can-Am. All classes will be running extra laps with increased purses to help close out the '99 season. Racing will be sponsored by Genesee Beer and AJ Missert Distributing, gates will open at 5:00 with the first green flag waving at 7:00. For more information call the speedway at (315) 658-4431 or look us up on the internet at www.can-amspeeway.com.
CLEAN BURN WASTE OIL FURNACES FEATURE FINISHES
358 DIRT MODIFIEDS: Pat O'Brien, Jeff Sykes, Bill Wilcox, Dale Eggleston, George McIntyre, Scott Parliament, Jim Narrow, Pete Roberts, Ryan Bartlett, Sandy Roberts, Chris Herbison, Steve Bilow, Todd Stewart, Dave Heaslip, Lee Gill, Bill Gill, Brent Cross, Bob Bennett, Lansing Petzoldt
DIRT SPORTSMAN: Dave Surace, Matt Butler, Tim VanBrocklin, Jeff Narrow, Adam Moore, Larry Bivens, Jim Eaton, Buddy Rogers, Andrew Howard, Wayne Side, Scott MacCue, RJ Gibbons, Anthony Fiorentino, Larry Lamb, Ben Tucker, Craig Collier DNS: Pete Schroy
IMCA MODIFIEDS: Neal Edgar, Kevin Chant, Lou Gancarz, Joe Lockorini, Ken Partridge, Ken Klinkowski, Rick Dusckas, Debbie Stevenson DNS: Cory Fachini
STREET STOCKS: Steve Woodward, Dave Marshall, Bill Eisele, Steve Rookey, Laurie Handschuh, Brian Rogers, Andy Wells, Lance Lalonde, Clint Middlemiss, Billy Gardner Jr., Jason Gilmore
IMCA HOBBY STOCKS: Chris Taylor, Chris Warner, Kim Mallette, Joseph Combs, Erv Miller, Mark Webb, Keith Rabetoy, Ernie Taylor, Mike Baltz, Shane Raye, Les Sanford, Don Scales, Ed Rogers, Charlie Duffany, Scott Schara, Kyle Sharp, Steve Gilmore DNS: George Sanford, Elmer Perry, Scott Webb